Detecting Unauthorized Physical Access via Wireless Electronic Device Identifiers

ABSTRACT

Monitoring a physical area for unauthorized access by a user of a wireless device includes setting a wireless signal scanning range using at least one wireless scanning device, detecting a wireless signal within the scanning range, determining a status of the wireless device of authorized, unauthorized or unknown, monitoring scan data obtained from the scanning device during the time the wireless signal remains within the scanning range. A scan data pattern based on the monitored scan data is determined and compared to a scan data pattern database containing scan data patterns indicative of suspicious behavior and determining whether the monitored scan data pattern matches a suspicious scan data pattern based on the comparison. The system identifies the wireless device as unauthorized in response to a match with a suspicious scan data pattern and activates a security alert.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure is directed to computers, and computer applications, andmore particularly to computer-implemented methods and systems formonitoring a physical area for unauthorized access by a user of awireless device.

Detecting unauthorized physical access to an area can be a difficulttask. Currently available methods include motion/video and audiodetecting systems. These systems also may include physical accessdetection such as door open alarms. These systems, however, can bedifficult and expensive to install and maintain.

In addition, current geo-fencing solutions focus on authorized knowndevices and would result in many false positives if used forunauthorized device detection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of a computer implemented method for monitoring aphysical area for unauthorized access by a user of a wireless deviceincludes the steps of storing in a database an authorized wirelessdevice ID list and an unauthorized wireless device ID list and setting awireless signal scanning range using at least one wireless scanningdevice, the scanning range corresponding to the physical area beingmonitored.

In one embodiment, the computer implemented method further includesscanning for signals from a wireless device within the scanning rangeusing the wireless scanning device; detecting an in-range wirelesssignal from a wireless device within the scanning range; determining awireless device ID associated with the an in-range wireless signal;comparing the wireless device ID associated with the in-range wirelesssignal with the wireless ID lists stored on the database; anddetermining a status of the wireless device ID associated with thein-range wireless signal based on the comparison, the status being oneof authorized, unauthorized and unknown.

In one embodiment, the computer implemented method further includesanalyzing the in-range wireless signal to determine scan datarepresentative the in-range wireless signal in response to the status ofthe wireless device ID associated with the in-range wireless signalbeing unknown; and monitoring the scan data during the time duration inwhich the in-range wireless signal remains within the scanning range;

In one embodiment, the computer implemented method further includesdetermining a scan data pattern based on the monitored scan data;comparing the monitored scan data pattern to a scan data patterndatabase, the scan data pattern database containing scan data patternsindicative of suspicious behavior of a user of the wireless device; anddetermining whether the monitored scan data pattern matches a suspiciousscan data pattern based on the comparison.

In one embodiment, the computer implemented method further includesidentifying the wireless device ID associated with the in-range wirelesssignal as unauthorized in response to a match with a suspicious scandata pattern; and activating a security alert in response to thewireless device ID associated with the in-range wireless signal beingidentified as unauthorized.

In one embodiment a computer implemented method for monitoring aphysical area for unauthorized access by a user of a wireless device,comprises storing in a database an authorized wireless device ID listand an unauthorized wireless device ID list, scanning, by a wirelesssignal detection device coupled to a computer, for signals from awireless device, detecting, by the wireless signal detection device, awireless signal from a wireless device and determining, by the computer,a wireless device ID associated with the wireless signal. In response todetermining, by the computer, that the wireless device ID associatedwith the wireless signal matches a wireless ID in the unauthorizedwireless ID list, activate a security alert. In response to determining,by the computer, that the wireless device ID associated with thewireless signal does not match a wireless ID in the authorized wirelessID list nor the unauthorized wireless ID list, receiving, by thecomputer from the wireless signal detection device, signal strengthinformation associated with the detected wireless signal for apredetermined time interval and in response to determining that apattern as a function of time of the received signal strength matches,within a threshold value, a signal strength pattern that has beenidentified as suspicious, activate a security alert.

A system that includes one or more processors operable to perform one ormore methods described herein also may be provided.

A computer readable storage medium storing a program of instructionsexecutable by a machine to perform one or more methods described hereinalso may be provided.

Further features as well as the structure and operation of variousembodiments are described in detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicateidentical or functionally similar elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the system formonitoring and unauthorized access detection disclosed in thisspecification.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of the method disclosed inthis specification.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of another embodiment of the method disclosedin this specification.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of another embodiment of the method disclosedin this specification.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of another embodiment of the method disclosedin this specification.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of another embodiment of the method disclosedin this specification.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing system suitable forimplementation of the embodiments disclosed in this specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for monitoringa physical area for unauthorized access. The monitoring and unauthorizedaccess detection method and system utilizes the current tendency ofindividuals to carry personal electronic devices which often have theirwireless function left enabled. The wireless function technologies,which include, for example, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular, are allcommonly left on, which means the devices are constantly transmitting asignal. In one embodiment, the method and system detects passing devicesthat enter into a predetermined zone without attempting to connect to anunknown device. Then, once an unknown device is detected, the systemwill evaluate the signal to obtain information about the device based onthe detected signal. With this information, the monitoring andunauthorized access detection method and system can determine whataction to take, such as, log the access for further review, create analert and/or trigger additional security devices.

In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, a single scanning device 10, similarto a Wi-Fi router or Bluetooth device, is positioned in a centrallocation within the physical area to be monitored. The centralizedscanning device 10 will passively scan for wireless devices that comewithin the scanning range 12 of the central device. When a wirelessdevice 22 comes within range 12, a computer analysis system 14 recordsthe device ID. The computer system 14 includes a database that storesauthorized and an unauthorized wireless device ID lists. One example ofthe computer system 14 is shown in FIG. 6 which will be described later.

In one embodiment of the computer implemented monitoring andunauthorized access detection method and system, shown in FIG. 2, thescan device 10 scans for a wireless signal in step S10. If a wirelesssignal is detected, in step S12 the computer system 14 compares thedevice ID with the database to determine whether or not the wirelesssignal is from an authorized device. If the signal is from an authorizeddevice, YES at step S12, the computer system 14 at step S14 continuesscanning for new devices (step S10). If the signal is not form anauthorized device, NO at S12, the computer system 14 determines whetheror not the wireless signal is from an unauthorized device at step S16.If the signal is from an unauthorized device, YES at step S16, thecomputer system 14 activates a security alert at step S18. The computersystem 14 at step S14 continues scanning for new devices (step S10).

If the signal is not from an unauthorized device, NO at step S16, thecomputer system 14 determines the device is unknown and begins obtainingand recording information at step S20 from the signal. The obtained scandata is representative of the in-range wireless signal and may includedevice ID, device type, signal strength, and other data obtained fromthe signal by the scanning device 10.

The computer system 14 monitors the scan data at step S22 and recordschanges in the scan data over the time period the signal is detected tobe within the scanning range. In one embodiment, the computer system 14monitors the signal behavior, such as how long the device is withinrange and the delta of the signal strength over that time period. Thecomputer system 14 stores patterns of signal behavior that have beenidentified as suspicious behavior and patterns that have been identifiedas non-suspicious behavior. The computer system 14 at step S24 performspattern matching between the behavior pattern determined from themonitored signal and the patterns in the database to determine if amatch is found to a suspicious pattern. The match may be based on asimilarity within a predefined threshold or as determined by a machinelearning model. If a match is found to a suspicious pattern, YES at stepS24, an alert is created and/or a security device is activated at stepS26. If no match is found to a suspicious pattern, NO at step S24, themethod moves to step S28 in which the computer system 14 determineswhether there is a match with a non-suspicious pattern. If a match isfound to a non-suspicious pattern, YES at step S28, the computer system14 is reset at step S14 to continue scanning for new devices and themethod returns to step S10. If no match is found to a non-suspiciouspattern, NO at step S28, because the pattern is unknown and thereforepotentially suspicious, an alert is created and optionally a securitydevice can be activated at step S26. The device ID for the wirelessdevice that caused the alert to be activated is stored in the device IDdatabase in step S30. Activating a security device may includeactivating a mechanism to deny access to a portion of the physical areabeing monitored or activating a surveillance camera.

In one embodiment, false positive alarms can be flagged by the systemoperator and sent to a cognitive learning environment, so that futuresimilar Wi-Fi device detections will also be flagged as non-suspiciousbehavior. As shown in FIG. 2, a notification that an alert and/or asecurity device activation has taken place is sent in step S32 to alearning module of the computer system 14. The leaning module updatesthe signal matching performed by computer system 14 to indicate that apreviously unknown signal pattern is a suspicious pattern. In oneembodiment, the user of the system can receive a notification that analert and/or a security device activation has taken place. The ownerthen can access via other means, such as security cameras, informationor data that would indicate to the user that the alert was invalid. Theuser can then flag the alert as invalid in step S34. The invalid flag istransmitted to the learning module to update the pattern matching. Themobile device information and other scan data such as the duration andsignal strength are recorded so that similar readings are not flagged asa false positive.

In one embodiment, the invalid flag by the user will be applicable onlyto previously unknown patterns that are initially identified assuspicious at step S28. In this embodiment, the user may also be able toset a temporary one time invalid flag for an alert that was previouslylisted as suspicious at step S24. In this embodiment, the userdetermines via the video camera or other means that the user of thewireless signal device being detected is not a suspicious person, eventhough the signal behavior matches that of a suspicious person. Thelearning module does not update the pattern matching when a temporaryinvalid flag is set by the user.

Current geo-fencing systems are not useful for detecting unauthorizeddevices because there could be many false positive alarms generated. Themonitoring and unauthorized access detection system and method disclosedherein solves this issue by have false and valid alarms captured andsent to a central database so that a learning algorithm can be utilizedto eliminate the false positives.

The following is one non-limiting exemplary use of the monitoring andunauthorized access detection system disclose herein by a single-familyhousehold for a standalone property. A device to scan for unknowndevices using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other wireless signals is placed inthe center of the house. The homeowner can calibrate the scanning deviceto only detect wireless devices within the range of the property. Thehomeowner additionally configures the scanning device to ignore allknown electronic devices, such as laptops, smart devices, cell phonesbelonging to family.

At a time when the homeowner and all home occupants are away from thehouse, the scanning device first detects an unknown device, then beginsmonitoring and recording the scan data, such as the signal strength,time duration and device ID. The system determines that the signal isgetting stronger. The signal then decreases rapidly and exits thescanning zone. Given the short duration of the unknown device event, thesystem does not generate an alarm because it matches a stored patternflagged as not suspicious. For example, there is no alarm when thepattern matches the pattern of a package delivery. Later on the sameday, however, the system detects an unknown signal, the signal getsstronger and stays strong for more than a few moments. The systemgenerates an alert based on this suspicious signal strength behaviormatching a suspicious behavior pattern. Later that same day, when theuser returns home, they notice that their motorcycle has been stolen outof their driveway. The homeowner can see from the log that a specificunknown device ID generated an alarm on the device. The homeowner cantake this device ID information to the police, as additional evidence tobe used in any investigation.

Another embodiment of a computer implemented method for monitoring aphysical area for unauthorized access by a user of a wireless device isshown in FIG. 3. In the method of FIG. 3, the computer system 14performs step S36 of storing in a database an authorized wireless deviceID list and an unauthorized wireless device ID list. In step S38 awireless signal scanning range using at least one wireless scanningdevice 10 is set, the scanning range corresponding to the physical areabeing monitored. The method then includes step S40 of scanning forsignals from a wireless device 22 within the scanning range using thescanning device 10, step S42 of detecting an in-range wireless signalfrom a wireless device 22 within the scanning range. The computer system14 at step S44 performs determining a wireless device ID associated withthe an in-range wireless signal. The computer system 14 next performsstep S46 of comparing the wireless device ID associated with thein-range wireless signal with the wireless ID lists stored on thedatabase and step S48 of determining a status of the wireless device IDassociated with the in-range wireless signal based on the comparison,the status being one of authorized, unauthorized and unknown. Thecomputer system 14 further performs step S50 of analyzing the in-rangewireless signal to determine scan data representative the in-rangewireless signal in response to the status of the wireless device IDassociated with the in-range wireless signal being unknown.

The method as performed by the computer system 14 next includes step S52of monitoring the scan data during the time duration in which thein-range wireless signal remains within the scanning range and step S54of determining a scan data pattern based on the monitored scan data. Themethod further includes step S56 of comparing the monitored scan datapattern to a scan data pattern database, the scan data pattern databasecontaining scan data patterns indicative of suspicious behavior of auser of the wireless device. The method also includes step S58 ofdetermining whether the monitored scan data pattern matches a suspiciousscan data pattern based on the comparison, step S60 of identifying thewireless device ID associated with the in-range wireless signal asunauthorized in response to a match with a suspicious scan data patternand step S62 of activating a security alert in response to the wirelessdevice ID associated with the in-range wireless signal being identifiedas unauthorized.

One embodiment of the computer implemented monitoring and unauthorizedaccess detection method, as shown in FIG. 4, includes step S64determining that the monitored scan data is not indicative of suspiciousbehavior of the user of the wireless device, step S66 of inputting thescan data of the monitored scan data determined not to be indicative ofsuspicious behavior into a cognitive learning computer, and step S68 ofupdating the scan data patterns indicative of suspicious behavior storedin the scan data pattern database based on the inputted scan data, usingthe cognitive learning computer.

One embodiment of the computer implemented monitoring and unauthorizedaccess detection method, as shown in FIG. 5, includes step S70 ofmeasuring the in-range wireless signal strength, step S72 of measuringthe length of time the in-range wireless signal is within the scanningrange, step S74 of measuring a change in the in-range wireless signalstrength over the length of time the in-range wireless signal is withinthe scanning range and step S76 of determining a match with a suspiciousbehavior pattern if the change is above a threshold.

In one embodiment, a plurality of wireless scanning device can be usedto set the signal scanning range that corresponds to the physical areabeing monitored. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a second wirelessscanning device 16 is used. The scan device 16 has a scanning range 18.In this embodiment, the scan data can include the location of thewireless device generating the signal being detected by tracking theposition of the in-range wireless signal within the overlapped scanningrange 20 using the two wireless scanning devices 10 and 16.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of another embodiment of a computer implementedmethod for monitoring a physical area for unauthorized access by a userof a wireless device. The method includes step S77 of storing in adatabase an authorized wireless device ID list and an unauthorizedwireless device ID list, step S78 of scanning, by a wireless signaldetection device coupled to a computer, for signals from a wirelessdevice, step S79 of detecting, by the wireless signal detection device,a wireless signal from a wireless device, and step S80 of determining,by the computer, a wireless device ID associated with the wirelesssignal. In step S82, in response to determining, by the computer, thatthe wireless device ID associated with the wireless signal matches awireless ID in the unauthorized wireless ID list, activate a securityalert. In step S84, in response to determining, by the computer, thatthe wireless device ID associated with the wireless signal does notmatch a wireless ID in the authorized wireless ID list nor theunauthorized wireless ID list, in step S86 receiving, by the computerfrom the wireless signal detection device, signal strength informationassociated with the detected wireless signal for a predetermined timeinterval. In step S88 in response to determining that a pattern as afunction of time of the received signal strength matches, within athreshold value, a signal strength pattern that has been identified assuspicious, activate a security alert

In step S90 in response to determining, by the computer, that thewireless device ID associated with the wireless signal matches awireless ID in the authorized wireless ID list, activate an accessauthorization signal. In step S92, in response to determining that thepattern as a function of time of the received signal strength matches,within a threshold value, a signal strength pattern that has beenidentified as not suspicious, activate a non-suspicious access signal.In step S94, in response to determining that the pattern as a functionof time of the received signal strength does not match, within athreshold value, a signal strength pattern that has been identified assuspicious nor a signal strength pattern that has been identified as notsuspicious, activate an unknown access signal. In step S96, inputtingthe signal strength information associated with the detected wirelesssignal for a predetermined time into a cognitive learning computer, thecognitive learning computer updating signal strength patterns indicativeof suspicious behavior stored in a scan data pattern database. In stepS98, tracking the position of the wireless device using at least towireless signal detection devices.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic of an example computer or processingsystem that may implement the method for monitoring a physical area forunauthorized access by a user of a wireless device in one embodiment ofthe present disclosure. The computer system is only one example of asuitable processing system and is not intended to suggest any limitationas to the scope of use or functionality of embodiments of themethodology described herein. The processing system shown may beoperational with numerous other general purpose or special purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with the processing system shown in FIG. 7 may include,but are not limited to, personal computer systems, server computersystems, thin clients, thick clients, handheld or laptop devices,multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes,programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems,mainframe computer systems, and distributed cloud computing environmentsthat include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

The computer system may be described in the general context of computersystem executable instructions, such as program modules, being executedby a computer system. Generally, program modules may include routines,programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and so on thatperform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.The computer system may be practiced in distributed cloud computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network. In a distributed cloudcomputing environment, program modules may be located in both local andremote computer system storage media including memory storage devices.

The components of computer system may include, but are not limited to,one or more processors or processing units 100, a system memory 106, anda bus 104 that couples various system components including system memory106 to processor 100. The processor 100 may include a program module 102that performs the methods described herein. The module 102 may beprogrammed into the integrated circuits of the processor 100, or loadedfrom memory 106, storage device 108, or network 114 or combinationsthereof.

Bus 104 may represent one or more of any of several types of busstructures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and notlimitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture(ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA)bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, andPeripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer system may include a variety of computer system readable media.Such media may be any available media that is accessible by computersystem, and it may include both volatile and non-volatile media,removable and non-removable media.

System memory 106 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) and/or cachememory or others. Computer system may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 108 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(e.g., a “hard drive”). Although not shown, a magnetic disk drive forreading from and writing to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk(e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical disk drive for reading from orwriting to a removable, non-volatile optical disk such as a CD-ROM,DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided. In such instances, eachcan be connected to bus 104 by one or more data media interfaces.

Computer system may also communicate with one or more external devices116 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 118, etc.; one ormore devices that enable a user to interact with computer system; and/orany devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enable computersystem to communicate with one or more other computing devices. Suchcommunication can occur via Input/Output (I/O) interfaces 110.

Still yet, computer system can communicate with one or more networks 114such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide area network (WAN),and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet) via network adapter 112. Asdepicted, network adapter 112 communicates with the other components ofcomputer system via bus 104. It should be understood that although notshown, other hardware and/or software components could be used inconjunction with computer system. Examples include, but are not limitedto: microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units, external diskdrive arrays, RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storagesystems, etc.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a non-transitory computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements, if any, in the claims below areintended to include any structure, material, or act for performing thefunction in combination with other claimed elements as specificallyclaimed. The description of the present invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to beexhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

In addition, while preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen described using specific terms, such description is forillustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes andvariations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of thefollowing claims.

1. A computer implemented method for monitoring a physical area forunauthorized access by a user of a wireless device, comprising: storingin a database an authorized wireless device ID list and an unauthorizedwireless device ID list; scanning, by a wireless signal detection devicecoupled to a computer, for signals from a wireless device within ascanning range defining the physical area; detecting, by the wirelesssignal detection device, a wireless signal from a wireless device withinthe scanning range; determining, by the computer, a wireless device IDassociated with the wireless device detected within the scanning range;determining, by the computer, whether the wireless device is authorized,unauthorized or unknown, in response to determining, by the computer,that the wireless device ID associated with the wireless signal matchesa wireless ID in the unauthorized wireless ID list, determine, by thecomputer, that the wireless device is unauthorized and activate asecurity alert; in response to determining, by the computer, that thewireless device ID associated with the wireless signal does not match awireless ID in the authorized wireless ID list or the unauthorizedwireless ID list, determine that the wireless device is unknown;monitoring, by the computer from the wireless signal detection device,signal strength information associated with the detected wireless signalof the unknown wireless device for a predetermined time interval;comparing a pattern as a function of time of the received signalstrength of the unknown wireless device to signal strength patternsstored in a database; and in response to determining that the pattern asa function of time of the received signal strength of the unknownwireless device matches, within a threshold value, a signal strengthpattern in the database that has been identified as suspicious,determine, by the computer, that the unknown wireless device is asuspicious wireless device within the physical area and activate asecurity alert.
 2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, furthercomprising in response to determining, by the computer, that thewireless device ID associated with the wireless signal matches awireless ID in the authorized wireless ID list, activate an accessauthorization signal.
 3. The computer implemented method of claim 1,further comprising in response to determining that the pattern as afunction of time of the received signal strength matches, within athreshold value, a signal strength pattern that has been identified asnot suspicious, activate a non-suspicious access signal.
 4. The computerimplemented method of claim 1, further comprising in response todetermining that the pattern as a function of time of the receivedsignal strength does not match, within a threshold value, a signalstrength pattern that has been identified as suspicious nor a signalstrength pattern that has been identified as not suspicious, activate anunknown access signal.
 5. The computer implemented method of claim 1,further comprising inputting the signal strength information associatedwith the detected wireless signal for a predetermined time into acognitive learning computer, the cognitive learning computer updatingsignal strength patterns indicative of suspicious behavior stored in ascan data pattern database.
 6. The computer implemented method of claim1, further comprising tracking the position of the wireless device usingat least to wireless signal detection devices.
 7. A computer system formonitoring a physical area for unauthorized access by a user of awireless device, comprising: one or more computer processors; one ormore non-transitory computer-readable storage media; programinstructions, stored on the one or more non-transitory computer-readablestorage media, which when implemented by the one or more processors,cause the computer system to perform the steps of: storing in a databasean authorized wireless device ID list and an unauthorized wirelessdevice ID list; scanning, by a wireless signal detection device coupledto a computer, for signals from a wireless device within a scanningrange defining the physical area; detecting, by the wireless signaldetection device, a wireless signal from a wireless device within thescanning range; determining, by the computer, a wireless device IDassociated with the wireless device detected within the scanning range;determining, by the computer, whether the wireless device is authorized,unauthorized or unknown, in response to determining, by the computer,that the wireless device ID associated with the wireless signal matchesa wireless ID in the unauthorized wireless ID list, determine, by thecomputer, that the wireless device is unauthorized and activate asecurity alert; in response to determining, by the computer, that thewireless device ID associated with the wireless signal does not match awireless ID in the authorized wireless ID list or the unauthorizedwireless ID list, determine, by the computer, that the wireless deviceis unknown; monitoring, by the computer from the wireless signaldetection device, signal strength information associated with thedetected wireless signal of the unknown wireless device for apredetermined time interval; comparing a pattern as a function of timeof the received signal strength of the unknown wireless device to signalstrength patterns stored in a database; and in response to determiningthat the pattern as a function of time of the received signal strengthof the unknown wireless device matches, within a threshold value, asignal strength pattern that has been identified as suspicious,determine, by the computer, that the unknown wireless device is asuspicious wireless device within the physical area and activate asecurity alert.
 8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the programinstructions cause the computer system to further perform the step of inresponse to determining, by the computer, that the wireless device IDassociated with the wireless signal matches a wireless ID in theauthorized wireless ID list, activate an access authorization signal. 9.The computer system of claim 7, wherein the program instructions causethe computer system to further perform the step of in response todetermining that the pattern as a function of time of the receivedsignal strength matches, within a threshold value, a signal strengthpattern that has been identified as not suspicious, activate anon-suspicious access signal.
 10. The computer system of claim 7,wherein the program instructions cause the computer system to furtherperform the steps of in response to determining that the pattern as afunction of time of the received signal strength does not match, withina threshold value, a signal strength pattern that has been identified assuspicious nor a signal strength pattern that has been identified as notsuspicious, activate an unknown access signal.
 11. The computer systemof claim 7, wherein the program instructions cause the computer systemto further perform the step of including inputting the signal strengthinformation associated with the detected wireless signal for apredetermined time into a cognitive learning computer, the cognitivelearning computer updating signal strength patterns indicative ofsuspicious behavior stored in a scan data pattern database.
 12. Thecomputer system of claim 7, wherein the program instructions cause thecomputer system to further perform the step of tracking the position ofthe wireless device using at least to wireless signal detection devices.13. A computer program product comprising: program instructions on acomputer-readable storage medium, where execution of the programinstructions using a computer causes the computer to perform a methodfor monitoring a physical area for unauthorized access by a user of awireless device, comprising: storing in a database an authorizedwireless device ID list and an unauthorized wireless device ID list;scanning, by a wireless signal detection device coupled to a computer,for signals from a wireless device within a scanning range defining thephysical area; detecting, by the wireless signal detection device, awireless signal from a wireless device within the scanning range;determining, by the computer, a wireless device ID associated with thewireless device detected within the scanning range; determining, by thecomputer, whether the wireless device is authorized, unauthorized orunknown, in response to determining, by the computer, that the wirelessdevice ID associated with the wireless signal matches a wireless ID inthe unauthorized wireless ID list, determine, by the computer, that thewireless device is unauthorized and activate a security alert; inresponse to determining, by the computer, that the wireless device IDassociated with the wireless signal does not match a wireless ID in theauthorized wireless ID list or the unauthorized wireless ID list,determine, by the computer, that the wireless device is unknown;monitoring, by the computer from the wireless signal detection device,signal strength information associated with the detected wireless signalof the unknown wireless device for a predetermined time interval;comparing a pattern as a function of time of the received signalstrength of the unknown wireless device to signal strength patternsstored in a database; and in response to determining that the pattern asa function of time of the received signal strength of the unknownwireless device matches, within a threshold value, a signal strengthpattern that has been identified as suspicious, determine, by thecomputer, that the unknown wireless device is a suspicious wirelessdevice within the physical area and activate a security alert.
 14. Thecomputer program product of claim 13, wherein the program instructionscause the computer to further perform the step of in response todetermining, by the computer, that the wireless device ID associatedwith the wireless signal matches a wireless ID in the authorizedwireless ID list, activate an access authorization signal.
 15. Thecomputer system of claim 13, wherein the program instructions cause thecomputer to further perform the step of in response to determining thatthe pattern as a function of time of the received signal strengthmatches, within a threshold value, a signal strength pattern that hasbeen identified as not suspicious, activate a non-suspicious accesssignal.
 16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the programinstructions cause the computer to further perform the step of inresponse to determining that the pattern as a function of time of thereceived signal strength does not match, within a threshold value, asignal strength pattern that has been identified as suspicious nor asignal strength pattern that has been identified as not suspicious,activate an unknown access signal.
 17. The computer system of claim 13,wherein the program instructions cause the computer to further performthe step of inputting the signal strength information associated withthe detected wireless signal for a predetermined time into a cognitivelearning computer, the cognitive learning computer updating signalstrength patterns indicative of suspicious behavior stored in a scandata pattern database.
 18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein theprogram instructions cause the computer to further perform the step oftracking the position of the wireless device using at least to wirelesssignal detection devices.